BLU R1 HD review

The BLU R1 HD currently has an Informr score of 7.2 out of 10.
This score is based on our evaluation of 5
sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The "1-Minute" Review

What's good

Budget priced

Bright and relatively sharp display

Good performance

Good battery life

What's bad

Camera works poorly in low light situations

Amazon subsidized version places ads in lock screen and notifications

Lots of preinstalled Amazon apps

Blu is a relatively unknown name in the smartphone market. The Florida-based company specializes in affordable hardware and the R1 HD is no exception to the rule. The phone is available to Amazon Prime members for under $100, though that also means they will need to allow ads on their lock screen, in their notifications and agree to a suite of preinstalled Amazon apps. For those who don’t want to deal with all of that, there is an unlocked version, but it will cost a little over $100.

For a budget phone it surprised experts with its sleek design from its slim aluminum frame to the curved-rectangle shape. While it won’t be confused with a flagship phone, they note it does have its own charm and is quite easy to grip thanks to the soft-touch back and comfortable dimensions of 5.6 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches. The back also snaps off to reveal two SIM slots and a microSD slot. Despite the low price tag, critics did not experience and issues that plague many other lower end phones like flexing, creaks or loose buttons.

The 5-inch, 720p LCD display isn’t the best one you’ll find on the market, but reviewers still came out impressed with its color, contrast and viewing angles. At 294 ppi, it might not be as sharp as the top smartphones on the market, but reviewers were still quite happy with how well text and images look. It wasn’t until the compared it beside a top tier phone that they really noticed the difference. Still, for the price, they consider it quite good.

It shouldn’t be surprising that this is no powerhouse. Still, armed with a quad-core 1.3GHz processor and up to 2GB of RAM, it also isn’t painfully slow. In fact, most experts consider it quite good as it had no serious issues during day-to-day tasks. Surprisingly, it also handles games quite well though they did notice a bit of stuttering for more graphic-intensive games. The life of the 2500mAh battery was also quite good and generally lasted them around a full day even with heavy usage. Sadly, there are no quick charging capabilities, but that isn’t too unexpected considering many higher priced smartphones don’t come with this feature either.

The 8MP rear camera cannot possibly stand up to higher end phones like the iPhone or Samsung Galaxy, but it managed to provide experts with color accurate images in good lighting conditions. With such a low megapixel count, they weren’t surprised to see pixilation in the images, especially when they zoomed in. Unfortunately, as light diminished so did the cameras capacity to take good pictures. In dimly lit situations, there was noticeable grain and an even greater loss in detail.

Depending on what model you get – the unlocked or Amazon exclusive version – will affect the cost of the Blu R1 HD. Reviewers have a hard time recommending the phone for power users as the pop up ads on the lock screen and notifications are annoying. For the cost of an unlocked version, they were also able to find other comparable smartphones that offer better performance, higher resolution screen and better cameras. Toms Guide adds, “…the Blu R1 HD is still a very good value if…other phones are out of your price range, but be prepared to deal with ads if you’re looking to pay as little as possible.” Ars Technica states, “BLU’s R1 HD should only really be on the table if you’re trying to buy the most phone you can for the least amount of money…As a phone buyer, I’d be much happier to have a phone subsidized by Amazon but not cut off from Google’s ecosystem than I would be to buy a Fire product…”

What the Critics Are Saying...

BLU’s R1 HD should only really be on the table if you’re trying to buy the most phone you can for the least amount of money. Other phones are faster and have better cameras and receive updates more consistently. But it’s a solid bargain even at its non-Amazon price of $100 (or $110...

- Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica

BLU gets a lot right with the R1 HD, with its solid design and build quality, decent performance, and clean software experience.

- Android Authority team, Android Authority

This is the phone for when you break your real phone and need to fill the gap until you’re ready for a true upgrade. This is the phone you get if you feel like your life would benefit from a second smartphone but don’t want to commit to the idea. Better still, this is the phone you don&r...

- Brian Barrett, Wired

The Blu R1 HD gives you a lot for just $50, including a bright 5-inch screen, sleek design and long-lasting battery, but this Amazon Prime special shows lots of ads.

- Michael Andronico, Tom's Guide

The Blu R1 HD is an unlocked Android phone with a good balance of performance for the price, making it a fantastic value for Amazon Prime users and regular customers alike.

If your R1 HD has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact BLU support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find BLU's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.

Critic Reviews

A $60 Amazon phone that’s way better than Amazon’s actual phone

BLU’s R1 HD should only really be on the table if you’re trying to buy the most phone you can for the least amount of money. Other phones are faster and have better cameras and receive updates more consistently. But it’s a solid bargain even at its non-Amazon price of $100 (or $...More

BLU’s R1 HD should only really be on the table if you’re trying to buy the most phone you can for the least amount of money. Other phones are faster and have better cameras and receive updates more consistently. But it’s a solid bargain even at its non-Amazon price of $100 (or $110 for the 2GB version I’d strongly recommend).

Helping redefine the budget smartphone

This phone gets a lot right, with a solid design and build quality, decent performance, a clean software package, and an unbeatable price point. The camera experience is a bit of a let down, and the ads, if you go for the Prime version, can get annoying, but at this price, these are understandabl...More

This phone gets a lot right, with a solid design and build quality, decent performance, a clean software package, and an unbeatable price point. The camera experience is a bit of a let down, and the ads, if you go for the Prime version, can get annoying, but at this price, these are understandable compromises to make. If you are looking for a good option on a budget, the BLU R1 HD should definitely be considered.

Insanely cheap for what it does

This is the phone for when you break your real phone and need to fill the gap until you’re ready for a true upgrade. This is the phone you get if you feel like your life would benefit from a second smartphone but don’t want to commit to the idea. Better still, this is the phone you do...More

This is the phone for when you break your real phone and need to fill the gap until you’re ready for a true upgrade. This is the phone you get if you feel like your life would benefit from a second smartphone but don’t want to commit to the idea. Better still, this is the phone you don’t get, but use as a baseline for how inconceivably good and how cheap smartphones have gotten. The Blu R1 HD isn’t better than anything. But it’s still plenty good.

A decent smartphone for as low a price as possible

The Blu R1 HD is certainly affordable, but that doesn't necessarily make it a bargain. The phone's design, display and battery life are satisfactory for a low-cost device, but its weak camera and inability to run graphically demanding apps serve as a constant reminder that this is a budget option.

The Blu R1 HD is certainly affordable, but that doesn't necessarily make it a bargain. The phone's design, display and battery life are satisfactory for a low-cost device, but its weak camera and inability to run graphically demanding apps serve as a constant reminder that this is a budget option.

We want you to know that The Informr is an independent resource. While we aim to provide
you with the most accurate information and keep things up to date, prices and terms of products
and services can change. We encourage you to always do your own research and double check the
terms. Using the information on this site is at your own risk and without warranty.

You should also know that in some cases, we may receive compensation when you click on links or
purchase through links on this site. This is at no extra cost to you. It lets us operate the
business and keep the service free for everyone. Here's
How We Make Money.